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U.S. Sen. Bob Casey: Volunteer corps would help 'sandwich generation' with senior care

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey at YMCA for volunteer corps proposal

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., right, speaks with a constituent Wednesday after unveiling plans for a volunteer Caregivers Corps that could help people caring for elderly parents at home.
(Express-Times Photo)

He's lived it over and over, in a span of 15 weeks losing his mother, his mother-in-law and his stepfather -- all while juggling the responsibilities of caregiver, boss, husband and a father to a college-age daughter.

"It's an unspoken issue," said Frey, 65, president and CEO of the Greater Valley YMCA. "Nobody talks about elder care or senior care and how to provide care for these folks."

Frey, of Nazareth, shared his story Wednesday at the YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity on West Lafayette Street in Easton.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., was there to outline his proposal for a national Caregivers Corps. An outreach of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it would provide resources and money for agencies to establish a structure for local volunteers to bridge gaps and help care for aging loved ones.

"We need a little bit of help," Frey said of family caregivers struggling to meet the demands of their own lives while managing the needs of elderly parents. "We couldn't find the time to get to the doctor or a haircut."

'It's very stressful'

Social Security allows for some home health care aide help. But families are being squeezed by stagnation in wage growth, rising health care costs and increases in college tuition costs that are outpacing income gains while time is at a premium, too, according to Casey.

Sometimes just a break of a couple of hours would allow caregivers a chance to catch a breath, Frey said.

"It's very stressful, and there's little help out there to manage the day-to-day," he said.

Casey's plan would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to enlist a contractor to develop guidelines and establish an online "toolkit" for organizations interested in establishing a volunteer corps.

It also would allocate money for grants to agencies and groups to organize and manage volunteers. Agencies such as the Y, Area Agencies on Aging and even colleges or universities could apply, Casey said.

How much the legislation would cost has yet to be determined and isn't in the bill. The program would require millions or in the "tens of millions," he estimated.

Growing numbers

Contracting for guidelines might be accomplished within the federal government's existing budget, Casey said. The awarding of grants may require additional allocations, but how much in total and for individual organizations remains to be seen, he said. The grants could be used in part to conduct screenings and background checks on potential volunteers.

Casey said he wants to introduce the legislation next month with a goal of passage in 2015.

Estimates put the number of Americans over age 65 with chronic health conditions at 30 million to 38 million, the senator said. And, roughly half of those in their 40s or 50s are providing for kids of their own while also helping care in some fashion for parents.

By comparison, there are only 800,000 home health aides assisting adults to remain in their homes, according to Casey.

Under the bill, volunteers would provide assistance and serve as a companion but wouldn't provide personal care or administer prescription medications. They may receive compensation or incentives as determined by each local corps program.

Even a short break

Frey felt the strain traveling between his Nazareth home and his mother's home in Paramus, New Jersey. The 101-year-old's primary caregiver was her 81-year-old husband -- Frey's stepfather. Frey's mother died last September and his stepfather died three months later. His mother-in-law, who also required care provided by the family, died in November.

"The volunteers can provide a little bit of a break -- even a couple of hours a week -- for professional direct care workers who are often overworked and also give a break to family members," Casey said. "It could lift what family members are up against every day, that burden."

With six locations, the Greater Valley YMCA serves 15,000 members -- 4,000 of them seniors or "active older adults," said Bryan Gault, chairman of the Y.